'It doesn't get any better': Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for Pine City's Lions Park

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Lions Park in Pine City's Woodpecker Ridge neighborhood on Thursday evening.

Pine City officially designated the park as Lions Park at a council meeting in January.

Both the Pine City Lions and Pine Area Lions donated $11,500 for improvements and equipment upgrades at the park.

On Thursday, parks and public buildings manager Brock Bloomquist said "it's a relief" to have the project done.

"It was a lot of sand, a lot of work, and it's just nice to know that this will benefit the community and definitely this neighborhood," Bloomquist said.

The Pine City Parks and Recreation department announced the construction project in July, and Bloomquist explained that work took longer than anticipated due to some weather issues.

"It came out nice, thanks to the Lions groups of the area," Bloomquist said.

Pine City Lion Terry Rothenbacher said the project was a successful collaboration between the city and the Lions clubs.

"It was one of the best projects I've ever worked on," Rothenbacher said. "It was the combination of the city, Marcy [Peterson], Brock [Bloomquist], and the men's Lions group and the ladies' Lions group," Rothenbacher said. "Everybody worked together, and it was fantastic."

Rothenbacher called the finished park "beautiful."

"The neighbors are happy with it, kids are playing, and it doesn't get any better," he said.